Manoeuvring the road-trip known as Autism is full of unknown twists and turns along the way, however, trusting the wisdom from the back seat drivers is highly recommended for this journey.
Owen (back seat driver) and Aidan (along for the ride)
On one particular session while Owen was in the back (with another friend) and my buddy Aidan was co-pilot with me in the front, (I was in my usual chauffeur mode) a conversation sparked. Owen was asking about kids both from his current school and his previous school in Canada, as to whether or not they had Autism. Some of these kids I knew personally, others not, and while I attempted to answer the question (while protecting the privacy of families) I realized that kids just want to know.
They sense the differences (some more apparent that others) and the better equipped our
neurotypicals are, the better they can manage and be supportive of others with disabilities. Our topics ranged from Down Syndrome to Fragile X to Cerebral Palsy and beyond. My back-seat navigators wanted to know causes and treatments and best way to handle and support their classmates.
Hiding from the reality of a diagnosis does not help anyone. And from the conversation I had with my 11 year old peanut gallery from the back seat, they want openness and they want information.
Knowledge is powerful and can create an open and understanding society for all of our populations dealing with varying issues, not just Autism. So talk to your kids, your kids friends, your school, your family, your colleagues and give them the power of advocacy and acceptance.
